About the High School Huddle

Welcome to the Citizen-Times' constantly-updated blog for Western North Carolina high school sports. Features include breaking news, scores and stats, college recruiting updates and live blogs from some of the marquee games in WNC. Readers are encouraged to comment on posts, but personal attacks on current athletes, coaches and their families will not be tolerated and are subject to edit or removal at the moderator's discretion.

Football teams from Hayesville and Swain County are awaiting their punishment from the Southwestern Officials Association and the NCHSAA after an overly-physical Smoky Mountain Conference game on Friday night.

Southwestern referees stopped the game early after multiple players for both teams had been thrown out of the 38-7 win by the Maroon Devils in Bryson City.

It is not yet known whether the dismissed players were disqualified or ejected and that’s an important discrepancy. NCHSAA guidelines state that if three or more players are ejected from the same team for fighting, that school receives a ban from the state playoffs.

Swain County (7-0, 2-0) is the defending NCHSAA 1-AA champion, while Friday was the first SMC loss for Hayesville (3-4, 2-1).

Southwestern officials are reviewing the game tape this weekend and could make a determination as soon as Sunday. Their recommendation for punishment will then be made to the NCHSAA.

It has been two years since the last instance in which WNC teams were banned from the playoffs for fighting – Nine players were ejected from a Andrews-Robbinsville basketball game in 2010. Three fans who ran onto the court during the melee were charged by Cherokee County police.

Tuscola first-year coach Brandon Allen and the Mountaineers football team improved to 2-5 with Friday’s 17-7 win at North Henderson. Allen talked about his experiences so far in Waynesville with the Citizen-Times:

Allen is now 3-15 in his young career, and he knows the whispers about his fitness as a coach will turn into roars if he doesn’t start winning soon.

“I know there are some people who would rather have someone else as their head coach,” he said frankly. “I also know I have a ton of people supporting me, my staff and these fine young men.

“Expectations are extremely high in Haywood County, and I love that,” Allen said. “Along with those expectations comes a lot of help in terms of fan support.

“I grew up with this, and I love being here. And I know if you don’t have thick skin, you won’t make it in this environment. I plan on making it.”

NEWLAND Grant Rivers scored on runs of 14 and 1 yards and Desean Jackson added a 10-yard scoring run for the Bearcats (5-1, 3-0 Western Highlands).

Rivers finished with 154 yards on 17 carries and Jackson carried 16 times for 96 yards.

Avery (2-5, 0-3) was held to 133 total yards.

Christ School 44, Cannon School 3

CONCORD Charles Beale scored on runs of 12, 74 and 22 yards and added a fourth touchdown on an 88-yard interception return for the Greenies (6-0).

Murphy 55, Robbinsville 21

ROBBINSVILLE The Bulldogs racked up 557 total yards as they remained unbeaten in the Smoky Mountain Conference.

Kenton Braswell scored three touchdowns while rushing for 215 yards, and Gage Cox added 152 rushing yards and a pair of scores.

Also breaking into triple-digits in the rushing column was James Posey (13 carries, 100 yards, 2 TDs) as Murphy improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the SMC.

Dakota Crisp passed for 121 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Black Knights (4-3, 1-2).

Rabun Gap 30, Cherokee 18

RABUN GAP, Ga. The Braves (2-4) fell into a 12-point hole at halftime and never recovered in their nonconference clash with Rabun Gap (1-5).

Rosman 43, Andrews 26

ROSMAN Duran Scruggs ran for two touchdowns and passed for another for the Tigers (3-4, 1-2 Smoky Mountain).

Caleb Rice ran for two touchdowns for Rosman, which had a 28-6 halftime lead.

Collin Gillespie rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns for Andrews (2-5, 0-2).

Swain County 38, Hayesville 7

BRYSON CITY Raymius Smith threw two touchdown passes, including a 37-yarder to Greg Tisho for the Maroon Devils (7-0, 2-0 Smoky Mountain).

Tisho finished with seven receptions for 136 yards. Smith completed 15 of 21 passes for 174 yards. He also ran for 54 yards on eight carries.

Chris Stiles scored on a 41-yard run for Hayesville (3-4, 2-1).

Franklin 40, Smoky Mountain 7

FRANKLIN Marquel Manning rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns to spark Franklin to a win over Smoky Mountain in a WNC Athletic Conference game.

The Panthers (5-2, 3-0) built a 26-0 halftime lead on a pair of 1-run scoring plunges by Manning, a 54-yard TD pass from Dalton Cochran to John Lindley and a 42-yard interception return for a score by Trey Maslin.

Manning added a 2-yard TD run in the third quarter before Austin Price closed out Franklin’s scoring with a 20-yard TD run in the fourth period.

The Mustangs (2-5, 2-1) averted the shutout on Chase Morgan’s 5-run TD run in the waning moments. Morgan finished with 89 yards rushing.

East Henderson 62, Brevard 13

BREVARD Seth Owen threw four first-half touchdowns as the Eagles scored all of their points before Brevard even got on the board.

Owen finished with 212 yards through the air on 8 of 10 passing, and he rushed four times for 88 yards as East Henderson (6-1, 3-0) rolled.

Enka senior Andrew Franklin was still wearing his pads more than an hour after Friday’s football game in Candler.

Who knows? He might have slept in them, too.

Franklin and the Jets took advantage of five turnovers (four fumbles, one interception) to beat seven-time defending Mountain Athletic Conference champion Asheville High for the first time in 17 years, 34-24.

“It’s crazy to think that we’re that team, the team that did it,” Franklin said.

“I just kept telling everybody in the huddle tonight, ‘Small head, big dream.’ You can’t even explain what this is like. It’s just real emotional, a good reward for all the hard work we’ve put in. I’ve said it before (after a previous win this season), it’s a great night to be a Jet.”

Franklin is scheduled to make a recruiting visit to Campbell on Saturday.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pound lineman’s blocking helped free up fellow senior Chris Carver to run for 155 yards and a touchdown on Friday. Carver leads Western North Carolina in rushing with 1,219 yards and carried the ball 40 times against the Cougars (4-2, 1-1).

Tommy Holloway scored twice. The junior caught senior Dustin Waldop’s only touchdown pass to give Enka (4-3, 1-1) an early 7-3 lead and later scampered 52 yards for a second score.

Kacee Hutchinson, a state champion wrestler who is playing his first year of varsity football as a senior, recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown at the 8:10 mark of the fourth quarter.

And finally, junior Shadow Christenson hit field goals from 25 and 40 yards.

Third-year Enka coach Manny Matsakis called Asheville the “Evil Empire” multiple times during his 2010 introductory press conference, but it was in a flattering tone. Matsakis told a group of Jets players assembled in the school media center that raising their program to the level of the Cougars was one of his goals.

On this one night, Enka was better. And with a record now above .500, hope is restored that the Jets could attain their school’s first winning football season in 15 years.

7:38: Austin Brown fumbled on a quarterback keeper, but it wouldn’t have mattered. He was short.

7:37: Erwin turns the ball over on downs at the McDowell 31.

7:33: Two passes from Austin Brown to Jonathan Allen and a short run by DeAngelo Collington allows Erwin to cross midfield.

7:31: Erwin will start at its 32-yard line.

7:28: Erwin wins the toss and elects to receive the ball.

7:27: Erwin’s leading tackler, Darius Lytle, is also not dressed out. Lytle twisted an ankle last Friday against Enka and the Erwin coaching staff was pretty confident that he would be available tonight.

7:17: Lightning is holding up the start of the Crest-Reynolds game in Shelby.

7:15: One final score to pass along: Rabun Gap (Ga.) 30, Cherokee 18. That’s the first-ever win for Rabun Gap over a WNC team in 11 tries.

6:58: No sign of any injured McDowell players.

6:18: Tonight is homecoming for McDowell and a good stready stream of people continue to pour in. Sure we’ll be at or near capacity on the home side.

6:16: As expected, Erwin running back Kelman Simpson is not dressed to play tonight. Simpson has a strained MCL, a knee injury he suffered in last Friday’s 48-21 win over Enka.

The University of North Carolina’s Daily Tar Heel newspaper has written a piece on former Asheville High cross country/track star Isaac Presson that gives some insight into his daily routine:

The Bell Tower tolls three times, but few are awake to hear it, save a select crew of athletes and early-risers.

It’s 5:47 a.m. on Sept. 18. The sky is a purplish gray, and a soft wind whips against the flags surrounding North Carolina’s Irwin Belk Track. The only respite from the darkness comes from the field lights towering above the track, and even that only illuminates patches of rubber and grass.

Isaac Presson, a 6-foot-3, 155-pound junior on the North Carolina cross country team, walks up to the second floor of Eddie Smith Field House and into the men’s locker room, where freshman Richard Miller asks him if he had caught the score to the Broncos-Falcons game the night before.

Presson had not. He had gone to bed at 10:30 p.m. The game was far from over.

Here’s the most up-to-date list of current Western North Carolina athletes who have committed to play college sports. As of today, the list has grown to 34 names. Coaches, parents and athletes, if you know of anyone not listed, please contact me at apearson@citizen-times.com or 232-5863.

Former All-WNC standout Shawn Rogers will not suit up for the Hendersonville football team in tonight’s Western Highlands Conference football game at Avery County, according to the Hendersonville Times-News:

An offensive star on the Hendersonville High football team has been suspended from tonight’s conference game because he is facing a misdemeanor assault charge — his second since January.

An arrest warrant states that Shawn Jacob Rogers, 17, of 107 Plantation Drive, struck 18-year-old Cagni Baxter of 95 Crimson Lane on Sunday. Baxter, a recent graduate of North Henderson High, was Rogers’ girlfriend at the time of the incident.

Former Erwin quarterback Robbie Nallenweg passed for 254 yards in Thursday night’s 33-24 win at Carson-Newman. The Division II football game was televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network.

More from Wingate:

Jefferson City, Tenn.—-The Wingate University defense held the Carson-Newman College offense to 98 yards and zero points in the second half and sophomore running back Nestor Lantigua (Wellington, Fla.) recorded his first career 100-yard rushing performance as the Bulldogs earned a 33-24 South Atlantic Conference football victory Thursday night at Burke-Tarr Stadium and Roy Harmon Field.

Wingate is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the SAC. Carson-Newman is 2-2 and 0-2 in the SAC. The contest is one of six CBS Sports Network national television games this season. The Bulldogs host Mars Hill Saturday, Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. The C-N Eagles visit Catawba the same day at the same time.

The Bulldogs and the Eagles combined for 827 yards total offense. Wingate posted 407 yards on 58 plays, while Carson-Newman recorded 420 yards on 64 plays. Lantigua shattered his career-best night, as he rushed 25 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Wingate redshirt junior quarterback Robbie Nallenweg(Asheville, N.C.) completed 19-of-28 passes for 254 yards and one score.

In the early going, fans thought they would be treated to an offensive shoot-out. In the end, a defensive stand on the goal line made the difference. Carson-Newman had a chance to put the ball into the end zone from the one-yard line, but the Bulldogs defense held late in the fourth quarter. Wingate would turn the stop into an eventual score to ice the game.

The host Eagles grabbed momentum by holding the visiting Bulldogs on a fourth down play late in the fourth quarter. On the very next play from scrimmage, C-N senior quarterback Brandon Haywood (Rockmart, Ga.) found senior wide receiver Jason Brown (Plant City, Fla.) for a 60-yard strike. The Haywood-to-Brown connection took the ball to the three-yard line. C-N faced a fourth-and-one at the one, but the Wingate defense answered the call as senior defensive lineman Josh Patch (Salisbury, N.C.) busted through the line to dump Carson-Newman junior running back Tyron Douglas (Clover, S.C.) for a two-yard loss.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has spoken out against U.S. Soccer for recently moving to a 10-month season, a change which will prevent boys from playing high school soccer in the fall and taking part in an Olympic Development Program:

Since the High School Athletics Participation Survey was started by the NFHS in 1971, soccer has been the runaway leader on the growth charts. That first survey indicated 78,000 boys and 700 girls played soccer at the high school level. Today, there are about 400,000 boys and 360,000 girls playing the sport at approximately 11,000 high schools.

Forty years ago, soccer was the 10th-most popular high school sport for boys. Today, having passed wrestling, cross country, golf, swimming and tennis, it has moved to No. 5. Only the longstanding entrenched sports of football, track and field, basketball and baseball have a higher number of participants than soccer.

In addition, there has been an increase in the number of boys participating in high school soccer for 32 consecutive years; however, that streak may come to an end when figures for the 2012-13 season are tabulated because of an unfortunate ruling by U.S. Soccer.

Earlier this year, U.S. Soccer – the sport’s governing body in the United States – announced that it was moving to a 10-month season with its U.S. Soccer Development Academy effective with the 2012-13 season. As a result of this action, the approximately 4,000 boys who compete in the 78-team Development Academy will no longer be able to play soccer on their high school teams.

Since 2007 when the Development Academy was created, boys on these Olympic Development Program (ODP) clubs were able to play on their high school team in the fall – at least in those states that sponsor the sport in the fall – and then join the ODP club after the high school season concluded.

The “club vs. high school” debate has been a longstanding issue with the sport of soccer. The United States is unique among international soccer powers in that the sport has a strong tradition of scholastic participation and exists within an education-based school setting. While we believe this is a positive step, U.S. Soccer is trying to adopt the year-round, sell-yourself-out approach that exists in the majority of countries in the world.

Obviously, we are extremely disappointed with this ruling by U.S. Soccer, particularly given the fact that our schools have attempted to co-exist. Many NFHS member state associations have enacted specific bylaw provisions to permit ODP participation by high school athletes. There seems to be no spirit of unity or cooperation with this latest move by U.S. Soccer.

Much to the delight of Lori Ledford, her Reynolds volleyball squad has realized its potential in recent weeks, with the Rockets (11-4, 5-2) winning seven of their last eight matches.

The lone loss came in five games to Mountain Athletic Conference leader Enka.

Not too shabby for a team with just three seniors – outside hitter Anna Fields, setter Leah Hawkins and libero Halee Wright.

The Rockets are home tonight for a 6 p.m. MAC match against Asheville High.

“We expect to win and we have more confidence than ever before,” Hawkins said.

“For the seniors, this is our last year and we just want to make the best of it.”

Reynolds is on pace to easily better last year’s 14-11 season.

“I knew we could do this at the beginning of the season,” Ledford said.

“It was just a matter of whether we came together. It’s not one thing overall with this team. They’re just not giving up and they don’t get down on themselves. The way they’re approaching the games lately is that we know we can win.”

The Rockets’ latest victory came Tuesday at home as they avenged one of their four losses with a three-game sweep of Erwin.

The San Francisco Giants have hired former Roberson baseball coach Donnie Suttles to be a territorial scout for North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Virginia and West Virginia.

Suttles is a McDowell graduate who continued his career in college at Western Carolina and professionally in the Cleveland Indians organization.

He coached the Rams to a 78-27 record in four seasons, including an appearance in the 4-A Western Regional championship series in 2010. Suttles spent the past two years as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech.

“It’s a great honor to work with a first-class organization for a quality group of front office personnel,” Suttles said.

“I look forward to finding players that have the talent and desire to play professional baseball. I grew up with the dream of playing professional baseball and never will forget the day I was drafted. Now I get to enjoy seeing the faces of kids with the same dream being selected by the San Francisco Giants. Thank you to God and all of my family, coaches and friends for helping me get to this point in my career.”

Please keep in mind that all references to “tonight” mean Friday. A preview for the Erwin-McDowell game can be found here. Unless noted, all kickoffs are at 7:30 p.m.

Mountain Athletic 3-A/4-A

ASHEVILLE (4-1, 1-0) at ENKA (3-3, 1-1)

Last week: Asheville beat Reynolds, 34-30; Enka lost to Erwin, 48-21.

Last year: Asheville beat Enka, 67-39.

Notes: Wanna write off Asheville High? Better not use ink. Josh Irby (660 yards, 11 touchdowns) is the latest Citizen-Times/Western North Carolina Player of the Week after rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns against previously-unbeaten Reynolds. Fellow senior David Howerton (396 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions) may have found a safety valve in tight end Danquiries Green. Green’s third and fourth receptions of the season were both touchdowns, including an 80-yard connection that was the game-winner with 21.9 seconds to go. Bryson Bradley (67.5 tackles) has been a breakout star on defense, backed by Sam Withers (50), P.J. Griffin (34) and Cameron Ray (34).Enka senior Chris Carver (1,064 yards, 12 touchdowns) is a 1,000-yard rusher for the third straight year. The Jets have not beaten the Cougars since 1995 and just twice in the last 20 meetings.

Pick: Asheville by 17.

NORTH BUNCOMBE (0-6, 0-2) at ROBERSON (5-0, 1-0)

Last week: North Buncombe lost to McDowell, 42-0; Roberson did not play.

Last year: Roberson beat North Buncombe, 36-7.

Notes: Does a football team like Roberson really need any more advantages? Chock up another. The Rams andNoah Suber (702 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, 15 combined touchdowns) are well-rested after their bye week for a matchup between the lone undefeated team in the MAC and its only winless one. Malik Griffin (554 yards, seven touchdowns) has backed Suber with a team-high total in rushing, while the offense as a whole has committed only five turnovers. Mahogany Suber (10.8 tackles per game) and Bill Cecil (10.0) continue to be the stalwarts for the defense. North Buncombe was shut out for the second time a week ago. Nevertheless, Dylan Shetley (777 rushing yards) is chugging towards a 1,000-yard season. Four Black Hawks have made more than 30 tackles – Tyler Shelton (46), Shane Hawkins (33), Caleb Gwaltney (32) and Cameron Taylor (31.5). North Buncombe has lost 11 of its last 12 games in this series.

Pick: Roberson by 24.

WNC Athletic 2-A/3-A

EAST HENDERSON (5-1, 2-0) at BREVARD (0-6, 0-2)

Last week: East Henderson beat North Henderson, 63-6; Brevard lost to Tuscola, 42-13.

Last year: East Henderson beat Brevard, 45-26.

Notes: Bad just went to worse in Brevard. And the downgrade has everything to do with the fact that East Henderson and Seth Owen (1,028 passing yards, 402 rushing yards, 20 combined touchdowns) are coming to town. Owen blew past the 1,000-yard mark last Friday as the Eagles hung 63 first-half points on North Henderson. That allowed Owen and top receivers such as Steffon Hill (23 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns) and Tyler Sexton (14 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns) to complete a sweep of their county’s other three high schools (Hendersonville, North and West Henderson). The Eagles and Matt Bishop (621 yards, 11 touchdowns) will be a challenge and then some for the Blue Devils, who only trailed 14-13 at halftime last Friday.

Pick: East Henderson by 24.

PISGAH (1-5, 0-2) at WEST HENDERSON (1-5, 0-2)

Last week: Pisgah lost to Franklin, 21-14; West Henderson lost to Smoky Mountain, 21-20.

Last year: Pisgah beat West Henderson, 41-7.

Notes: Eureka!The light at the end of the tunnel has led Pisgah and leading tacklers Trevor Bailey (27.5), Coltan Shuler (24.5) and Corey Valentine (23.5) to Mills River tonight. For the first time this season, the Black Bears will face an opponent with a losing record. Starting quarterback Josh Noland (603 passing yards, 420 rushing yards, 12 combined touchdowns) continues to lead Pisgah in multiple offensive categories, but was knocked out of last week’s game with a foot injury. Backup McKinley Brown came in to pass for 82 yards and a touchdown in just eight minutes. West Henderson quarterback Brandon Letchworth did not play last Friday after fracturing his non-throwing hand (left) the week before. Drew Turner has been a tackle machine for the Falcons with 10.8 a game.

Notes: Smoky Mountain coach David Napert uses the word “rebuilding” a lot with a young team that includes 11 freshmen or sophomores. At least Zeb Speir and the Mustangs have laid a good foundation with back-to-back wins. Speir threw for 139 yards, with timely touchdown passes to Zechariah Carter (47 yards) and Jayce Wolfe (52) in the final 90 seconds last Friday. Speir, who is a sophomore, now has 285 yards and five touchdowns in the past two weeks. Franklin junior Marquel Manning (1,012 yards, 12 touchdowns) leads the WNCAC in rushing and went over 1,000 yards with a 294-yard performance last Friday at Pisgah. Leading tackler Jeremiah Young (7.3 a game) returned from an ankle sprain. The Panthers have been on the winning end of this Cowee Mountain rivalry 11 out of the last 12 years.

Pick: Franklin by 14.

TUSCOLA (1-5, 1-1) at NORTH HENDERSON (1-5, 1-1)

Last week: Tuscola beat Brevard, 42-13; North Henderson lost to East Henderson, 63-6.

Last year: North Henderson beat Tuscola, 16-14.

Notes: Father’s Day fell on a Friday last year.North Henderson quarterback Zack Gahagan (1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions) dedicated a 2011 win at Tuscola to his dad, Mike, who starred for the Haywood County school as a receiver in the 1980s. The younger Gahagan went over 1,000 yards last Friday, but there were not many other positives for the Knights to glean from a 57-point loss. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers finally got their first win. Woody Cornwell passed for 144 yards, with 88 of them going to Adam Chambers. Levi Duffield (59.5 tackles), Houston McCracken (30) and the rest of the Tuscola defense held Brevard scoreless in the second half.

Pick: Tuscola by 1.

Western Highlands 1-A/2-A

HENDERSONVILLE (5-1, 2-0) at AVERY COUNTY (2-4, 0-2)

Last week: Hendersonville beat Madison, 44-21; Avery County lost to Thomas Jefferson, 13-6.

Last year: Hendersonville beat Avery County, 48-28.

Notes: Someone has to wonder if the rest of the WHC is playing for second. Hendersonville and Grant Rivers (1,274 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions) took a 34-0 lead to halftime against previously-unbeaten Madison last Friday. In effect, Rivers became the new area leader in passing thanks to the tandem of Shawn Rogers (27 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns) and D.J. Wilson (19 receptions for 540 yards and eight touchdowns). Rogers also made two interceptions a week ago for a defense led in tackles by Landon Blythe (37.5). Avery County has dropped four straight games after a promising 2-0 start.

Pick: Hendersonville by 21.

MADISON (5-1, 1-1) at THOMAS JEFFERSON (6-0, 2-0)

Last week: Madison lost to Hendersonville, 44-21; Thomas Jefferson beat Avery County, 13-6.

Last year: Madison beat Thomas Jefferson, 49-30.

Notes: One deflation deserves another? Madison and Tyler Rogers (769 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions) had the wind taken out of their best start in school history a week ago. Tonight, the Patriots can do the same to WHC upstart Thomas Jefferson.Defensively, leadership has come from Deryck Hilemon (42 tackles) and Daniel Nash (35).Gryphons quarterback Mac Martin (757 rushing yards, 696 passing yards, 18 combined touchdowns) will be the main worry for Madison tonight.Will McCraw (476 yards, three touchdowns) has also made 34 tackles.Thomas Jefferson’s 35-27 home win over Madison in 2010 was its first-ever in the WHC.

Pick: Madison by 3.

MOUNTAIN HERITAGE (1-4, 0-2) at OWEN (3-3, 2-0)

Last week: Mountain Heritage lost to Polk County, 41-20; Owen beat Mitchell, 49-0.

Last year: Mountain Heritage beat Owen, 30-27.

Notes: Conference play has cured a lot of Owen’s ills. The Warhorses are slowly getting injured players back and it’s showed with easy wins over Avery County and Mitchell. Sophomore Jager Gardner (655 yards, six touchdowns) is averaging 109.1 rushing yards a game.Owen’s defense has allowed just six points this far in WHC competition and takes its cues from Adam Lunsford (43.5 tackles) and Tyler White (38).Mountain Heritage and Trevor Robinson (808 passing yards, 302 rushing yards, 17 combined touchdowns) have won four straight in this series.

Pick: Owen by 7.

POLK COUNTY (4-2, 1-1) at MITCHELL (1-5, 0-2)

Last week: Polk County beat Mountain Heritage, 41-20; Mitchell lost to Owen, 49-0.

Last year: Mitchell beat Polk County, 28-27.

Notes: Predictably,Polk County did not stay down for long. The Wolverines and Alec Philpott (702 passing yards, 546 rushing yards, 14 combined touchdowns) rebounded from their first-ever loss in a conference opener under longtime coach Bruce Ollis with a three-touchdown triumph over Mountain Heritage. Coleman Bradley (56 tackles) and Lucas Williams (47) have been leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Mitchell was shut out for the first time since 2010 last Friday.

Pick: Polk County by 14.

Smoky Mountain 1-A

ANDREWS (2-4, 0-1) at ROSMAN (2-4, 0-2)

Last week: Andrews lost to Robbinsville, 62-6; Rosman lost to Hayesville, 10-7.

Last year: Andrews beat Rosman, 52-21.

Notes: Going up? At the moment, the SMC penthouse may be reserved by state-ranked Murphy and Swain County, as well as Hayesville.But these teams will try to step out of the basement tonight in Transylvania County.Rosman and leading tacklers Josh Diaz (29) and Christian Davis (28) have dropped four straight games after the Tigers’ first 2-0 start since 2004. Quarterback Duran Scruggs (673 yards, nine touchdowns) remains the SMC’s leading rusher. His counterpart at Andrews, Jacob Moore, gave the Wildcats their only points a week ago with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Clark.

Notes: New school, same old story.Swain County quarterback Raymius Smith (1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions) went over 1,000 yards last Friday and is well on his way to bettering the 2011 total (1,526 yards) that was a single-season record at Cherokee. Smith continues to rely on a solid one-two punch in Matthew Maennle (27 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns) and Greg Tisho (24 receptions for 631 yards and seven touchdowns).Hayesville and Kyle Vardo (63 tackles) have already doubled their number of SMC wins (one) from 2011. Chris Stiles scored the Yellow Jackets’ only touchdown last Friday, while Jacob Wallace drilled a 32-yard field goal.

Notes: Democracy is what these Dogs are all about when they run the football. Murphy has amassed 2,052 team rushing yards (with an average of 9.4 yards per carry) and been led individually by Gage Cox (512 yards, six touchdowns), James Posey (489 yards, 11 touchdowns), Kenton Braswell (320 yards, four touchdowns) and Deon Johnson (266 yards, three touchdowns).Robbinsville and Spencer McCoy (63 tackles) are bidding for their first win over Murphy since 2004.Austin Hill and Chris Orr combined for five touchdowns a week ago.

Notes: Coming off its first loss, Reynolds could use a breather. Maybe next week. Levi Ledford (968 passing yards, 171 rushing yards, 16 combined touchdowns) and the Rockets must try to crack a Crest defense that includes two ACC recruits –Dane Rodgers (Clemson) and Quinton Patterson (N.C. State).Ledford scurried for his eighth, ninth and 10th rushing touchdowns last Friday. The junior also threw for a score to his favorite receiver Caelon Rhinehardt (25 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns).Reynolds has lost defensive lineman Ryan McLaughlin to a sprained medial collateral ligament and two-time All-WNC linebacker Justin St. Onge is also expected to miss his third game with the same injury. That puts an even bigger onus on tacklers such as John Nick Setterlind (11.9 a game) and Tavien Morgan (9.8).Crest is No. 9 in the latest Associated Press 3-A poll and owes its only loss to Roberson (28-27 on Sept. 7).

Notes: Life without Dorian Walkingstick (327 yards, five touchdowns) continues to plod along for Cherokee.The Braves have been outscored 109-25 in three losses since losing their leading rusher to a hamstring injury on Aug. 24.Logan Woodard (33 tackles) and Tavi Rivera (29) will try to keep Cherokee from making history tonight – Rabun Gap is 0-10 in games against WNC teams the past two years. Seth Littlejohn (278 yards, three touchdowns) has been the Braves’ top rusher in Walkingstick’s absence.

Pick: Cherokee by 3.

ASHEVILLE SCHOOL (1-3) at SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN (5-0)

Last week: Asheville School lost to Davidson Day, 54-7; SouthLake Christian did not play.

Last year: SouthLake Christian beat Asheville School, 27-14.

Notes: It all starts up front. Asheville School’s still-developing offensive line hasn’t come along quick enough as the Blues are averaging just 8.8 points a game. Naeem Swinton scored the Blues’ only touchdown on an 89-yard kickoff return a week ago. SouthLake’s offense is powered by Randy Schroeder (1,723 yards and 16 touchdowns with one interception), who has a pair of 500-yard receivers in Demitri Allison (22 receptions for 565 yards and four touchdowns) and Caleb Hines (21 receptions for 548 yards and four touchdowns).

Pick: SouthLake Christian by 10.

CHRIST SCHOOL (5-0) at CANNON SCHOOL (1-4)

Last week: Christ School beat First Assembly Christian, 10-0; Cannon School did not play.

Last year: Christ School beat Cannon School, 36-10.

Notes: Christ School cannot do much more on defense. Jack Bonds (23.5 tackles), Matt Seely (20), Gabe deBeus (18.5), Dalton Friel (18.5) and Charles Beale (17.5) are part of a unit that has allowed just 13 points in five games. Meanwhile, Christian Jewkes (616 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions) appears to be headed for his third straight 1,000-yard season.The Greenies are No. 3 in the latest NCISAA Division II rankings.Cannon School has not played since a 14-13 loss to Asheville School on Sept. 14.

The real difficulty came afterwards in the training room and doctors office.

Former All-MAC linebacker/running back Austin Dolly is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a loss that Warriors coach Mike Sexton termed a “tremendous blow.”

And leading rusher Kelman Simpson (875 yards, 10 touchdowns) has some knee issues of his own.

Sexton said the junior will be a game-time decision tonight with a sprained medial collateral ligament when Erwin (5-1, 1-1) travels to McDowell (5-1, 1-1). The same type of injury has sidelined other Western North Carolina football players for multiple weeks.

Tonight’s kickoff is set for 7:30.

Titans coach Carson Gowan sympathizes with Erwin, but he appreciates the recent history of this series, too. The last time the two teams met in Marion (2010), a running clock was used for portions of a 45-0 shutout by the Warriors.

“We know (Erwin) has got some kids who’ve suffered some injuries and we don’t wish bad luck on any young man who is out there trying to better himself,” Gowan said.

“My heart goes out to them. But it’s just part of this game. Erwin has still got a lot of kids that can run, a lot of big kids and we’re not nearly as deep as they are. We’re going to have to play perfect just to be in it.”

Erwin quarterback Austin Brown (1,138 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions) leads the MAC in passing yardage and when he puts the ball in the air, there’s a good chance it is going to Jonathan Allen (38 receptions for 529 yards and nine touchdowns), Seth Carter (15 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown) or Tyler Sullins (14 receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns).

Allen’s receptions are the most by any WNC receiver.

If Simpson cannot go tonight, the Warriors got a good look at fellow junior DeAngelo Collington last Friday. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound back ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

“(McDowell) is so far removed from what they were a couple years ago. They’re really good,” Sexton said.

“They’ve moved the ball well against everybody they’ve played. We know they’ve only lost one game to an undefeated team (36-20 to Roberson on Sept. 14). It ought to be a great game. They play in a huge stadium as it is and I’m sure they’re filling it. So I hope a lot of our people follow us down there, too.”

Meanwhile, McDowell’s 42-0 shutout of North Buncombe last Friday has given the Titans their most wins (five) since 2001.

Malique O’Neil (734 yards, seven touchdowns) and Trey Anderson (576 yards, six touchdowns) have been a formidable tandem across the ground.

Grant Robinson has passed for 530 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions.

Most of Robinson’s throws have gone to Johnny Cooper (13 receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns), Jared Helms (10 receptions for 129 yards and four touchdowns) and Isaac Martin (10 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown).

The Titans’ top tacklers are Gowan’s son, John (6.1 per game), and Helms (5.1).

“We’re certainly pleased with the kids’ progress and the way we’re playing,” Carson Gowan said.

“We’re just trying to take it day-by-day and week-by-week. We’re just going to try and play a perfect game (tonight) against a very good opponent with no real weaknesses. And if we do that, we hope to be in that football game in the fourth quarter.”

ERWIN AT MCDOWELL

Kickoff: 7:30 tonight.

Pick: Erwin by 1.

Following is a look at the last three football games between Erwin and McDowell:

2011: Erwin 35, McDowell 20.

2010: Erwin 45, McDowell 0.

2009: Erwin 58, McDowell 35.

COMING TONIGHT: Log onto CITIZEN-TIMES.com/hshuddle for a live blog from the Erwin-McDowell football game.

Roberson graduate Brian Fitzmaurice has signed with the Las Vegas Legends.

Former Roberson soccer standout Brian Fitzmaurice has signed to play professionally for the Las Vegas Legends.

The Legends are a first-year franchise in the Professional Arena Soccer League. They begin their season Oct. 18 at home against an exhibition team from Mexico.

Fitzmaurice is a defender for the Legends.

In high school, Fitzmaurice was part of the Rams’ first-state championship in the sport in 2003. He had 31 goals and 19 assists as a senior, with one of each in the NCHSAA 3-A finals against White Oak.

Smoky Mountain junior forward Jordan Couch set single-game and single-season school records for goals in another jaw-dropping offensive display on Wednesday night in Sylva.

Couch found the back of the net eight times in a 9-2 Western North Carolina Athletic Conference win over Pisgah.

That gives the striker 40 goals for the season, two more than the previous record (38) held by his older brother, Jarrod. Jarrod Couch is now a kicker for the Western Carolina University football team.

Lance Buskey also set a single-game school record for the Mustangs (10-5-0, 3-2-0) with four assists on Wednesday. Smoky Mountain goalkeeper Zack Bryson made five saves.

The Rams went beyond regulation for the second consecutive game Wednesday and got the same result with a 4-1 win over Reynolds at Ensley Stadium.

Junior Austin Stamey blasted in his seventh and eighth goals of the season in the first overtime. For good measure, senior Jonathan Stillman added a goal in the second.

With the victory, Roberson (12-1, 5-0) expanded its lead over the Rockets (10-3, 3-2) in the Mountain Athletic Conference’s 4-A division from one to two games.

The Rams also held on for a 3-2 overtime win on Monday at Asheville High.

Wednesday’s game was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.

“It was two great teams and a great battle tonight,” Roberson coach Rob Wilcher said.

“You have to give credit to Reynolds, they were passionate and determined to take it to us in the first half. I thought we did a much better job in the second. If nothing else, we wanted to play hard and hustle.”

Reynolds senior Ed Diez’s header came in the first 30 seconds of the game and was the only first-half goal.

Roberson kept searching and searching for an equalizer until finally sophomore Hunter Sperry headed one in with 15:06 remaining in the second half.

Stamey rattled the crossbar with an errant shot in the final few minutes of regulation. But he hit nothing but net with two hard shots within 10 yards at the 7:22 and 5:46 marks of the first overtime.

Stillman’s goal was his seventh of the season and came with just over three minutes to go in the second overtime.

Stamey is a former All-MAC striker who had 23 goals and 17 assists as a junior.

He did not begin the season on the Rams’ roster. Instead, Stamey was attending a Charlotte soccer academy. However, the travel became too much, and Stamey returned earlier this month.

Roberson has yet to lose since.

The Rams extended their winning streak to 10 games on Wednesday and are 14th in the latest N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 4-A poll.

Rockets keeper Eric Lenhart made 10 saves, while his counterpart at Roberson, Kevin Rhash, made 15.

Roberson outshot Reynolds, 24-23.

“We played really well and had them on their heels tonight,” Rockets coach Patrick Gladys said.

“But Roberson played just as well in the second half and overtime.”

Roberson travels to Enka on Monday, while Reynolds is scheduled to play at North Buncombe.

Western North Carolinafootball coaches have been asked to submit their statistical leaders in the following categories. Schools which did not turn in stats are not included. Statistics are due each Wednesday before 3 p.m. and may be e-mailed to apearson@citizen-times.com or faxed to 251-0585.

Statistics are due each Wednesday by 3 p.m. and will be published both here on the HS Huddle blog and in the paper. You may also send full spreadsheets, or if you use a MaxPreps page, please inform us of that.

Stats may be e-mailed to apearson@citizen-times.com or faxed to 251-0585. Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions at 232-5863.

Asheville High football coach Danny Wilkins will always have a fondness for the Hominy Valley.

It is after all where Wilkins grew up and where his family still resides.

But at the moment, the coach is more than a little concerned that his Cougars (4-1, 1-0) will come out flat on Friday at Enka (3-3, 1-1).

Senior running back Josh Irby (660 yards, 11 touchdowns) was named the Citizen-Times/Western North Carolina Football Player of the Week after rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 34-30 home victory over previously-unbeaten Reynolds.

David Howerton (396 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions) and Danquiries Green connected for two touchdown passes, including the game-winner from 80 yards out with 21.9 seconds to go.

Bryson Bradley continues to lead Western North Carolina in tackles (13.4 per game) followed by Sam Withers (10.0)

Asheville hasn’t lost to Enka in football since 1995 and has taken 18 of the last 20 meetings.

“As great as (Friday) was, as a grumpy old coach, you want to say that there’s five more good conference games ahead,” Wilkins said.

“You don’t want to live on the emotion of something that happened a week ago. Right now, this is the most important game. We see stuff happening at every level where teams get carried away and don’t respond. That’s what I’m concerned about. Enka has some of the fastest guys around and they can be explosive.”

The Cougars lost lineman Holton Brown to a high ankle sprain on Friday and he is expected to sit out a month.

Enka has won three of its last four games and has the top rusher in WNC (senior Chris Carver, 1,064 yards) as well as a Division I recruit in receiver Drake Wells (Gardner-Webb). Asheville beat the Jets, 67-39, in 2012.

McDowell football coach Carson Gowan sympathizes with Erwin, which will bring a banged-up roster to Marion on Friday.

But according to Gowan, it will still require execution in all areas for the Titans (5-1, 1-1) to beat the Warriors (5-1, 1-1).

The last time the two teams met in Marion (2010), a running clock was used for portions of Erwin’s 45-0 shutout.

“We know (Erwin) has got some kids who’ve suffered some injuries and we don’t wish bad luck on any young man who is out there trying to better himself,” Gowan said.

“But it’s just part of this game. Erwin has still got a lot of kids that can run, a lot of big kids and we’re not nearly as deep as they are. We’re going to have to play perfect just to be in it.”

Erwin lost former All-Mountain Athletic Conference linebacker/running back Austin Dolly to a torn ACL suffered in Friday’s 48-21 home win over Enka. Leading rusher Kelman Simpson (875 yards, 10 touchdowns) has a sprained MCL, a knee injury that sometimes requires as much as a month of recovery.

Meanwhile, McDowell has won its most games since 2001.

Malique O’Neil (734 yards, seven touchdowns) and Trey Anderson (576 yards, six touchdowns) have been a formidable tandem, while Grant Robinson has passed for 530 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions. Most of his throws have gone to Johnny Cooper (13 receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns), Jared Helms (10 receptions for 129 yards and four touchdowns) and Isaac Martin (10 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown).

Leading tacklers are John Gowan (6.1 per game) and Helms (5.1).

“We’re certainly pleased with the kids’ progress and the way we’re playing,” Carson Gowan said.

“We’re just trying to take it day-by-day and week-by-week. We’re just going to try and play a perfect game (on Friday) against a very good opponent with no real weaknesses. And if we do that, we hope to be in that football game in the fourth quarter.”

The Washington Redskins announced Tuesday that they have signed free agent cornerback David Jones and waived injured cornerback Crezdon Butler.

The team also signed defensive lineman Chigbo Anunoby to its practice squad, and released Delvin Johnson, also a defensive lineman, from that squad.

Jones spent the preseason with Washington after signing with the team as a free agent two days before the start of training camp. The six-year veteran recorded eight tackles and three pass breakups during the preseason.

The 6-foot, 197-pound Jones was among the team’s final roster cuts and hadn’t caught on with another squad. Washington signed Butler on Sept. 1 after he was released by Arizona. The Clemson product appeared in this past Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but injured his hamstring on a special teams play.

Here are the latest Associated Press football polls, voted on by a panel of statewide media:

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Associated Press state high school football poll for the week of September 25, first-place votes in parentheses, records and total points as voted upon by a statewide panel of prep sports writers:

Roberson senior forward Kathryn Black has committed to play college soccer for Elon.

Black was an All-Mountain Athletic Conference selection as a junior after scoring five goals and dishing out 10 assists for the Rams (19-4-3).

Her commitment means that Roberson will have at least four college recruits on its roster in 2013 since Maddie Brock (Wake Forest), Mercedes Ducker (Western Carolina) and Emily McCord (Presbyterian) have previously picked their schools.

Here’s a sneak peek at a story that will appear in Wednesday’s Citizen-Times…

Three football teams stand alone in Western North Carolina, having crisscrossed the midway point of the regular season without a loss.

But to hear their coaches tell it, there is plenty in common between Christ School (5-0), Roberson (5-0) and Swain County (6-0).

Namely, they are all grounded as they prepare for the final five weeks before the start of the NCHSAA or NCISAA playoffs on Nov. 2.

The defending NCHSAA 1-AA champion Maroon Devils own the longest winning streak in WNC (18 games) and are the top-ranked team in 1-A state polls published by The Associated Press, MaxPreps and NCPreps.com.

“We harp on not getting complacent. The way we set it up is that each week is a step and we try to give them something each week to be fired-up about. This group has really handled it well. They’ve practiced really well. They continue to work hard and they want to get better.”

Swain County quarterback Raymius Smith (1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions) became the seventh WNC player to reach 1,000 yards in an offensive category in Saturday’s 54-7 rout at Pikeville (Ky.).

Matthew Maennle caught both of Smith’s touchdowns on Saturday and had 292 total yards (including an 89-yard kickoff return).

Swain County has outscored its last three opponents, 140-21, and will go for its second Smoky Mountain Conference victory on Friday at home against Hayesville (3-3, 2-0).

Raymius Smith

Both of WNC’s other unbeaten teams are from Buncombe County.

Plenty was expected out of Mountain Athletic Conference preseason favorite Roberson and the Rams have delivered with their best start since 2007. They remain the area’s top-ranked team for the sixth straight week in the Citizen-Times Best of the West rankings.

Roberson is coming off an open date for Friday’s second foray into MAC play against visiting North Buncombe (0-6, 0-2).

“We had a really good bye week,” Beatty said.

“We were able to get some kids healed up and now all our attention is focused on North Buncombe. I think we’re a real level-headed team that has grown from some success in our youth, middle school and JV programs. They know how to handle it. We’re having good practices and continuing to stay focused on finishing these last five (regular-season) games.”

The Rams have not been in action since a 36-20 road win at McDowell on Sept. 14.

Noah Suber had 247 yards of offense and two touchdowns in that game. Angelo Cogburn and Malik Griffin added touchdowns runs, while Grant Hiriak booted field goals of 35 and 43 yards.

Defensively, Mahogany Suber (10.8) and Bill Cecil (10.0) are each averaging 10 or more tackles per game.

And the offense led by Christian Jewkes (616 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions) has persevered after running back Mike Dumaine was lost to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Dumaine was the 2011 Carolina Piedmont Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Christ School is No. 3 in the latest NCISAA Division II rankings.

“We’re staying focused and trying to follow the same formula we did last year,” Moroz said.

“We have a formula that works. We push them and they respond well. We got into trouble last year where we didn’t have the depth that we do now. That’s been a real focus for us.”

Here’s the most up-to-date list of current Western North Carolina athletes who have committed to play college sports. As of today, the list has grown to 32 names. Coaches, parents and athletes, if you know of anyone not listed, please contact me at apearson@citizen-times.com or 232-5863.

We will have our annual “volley for the cure” game on Monday October 1 here at ACR vs. E. Henderson. JV will start @5:00 with varsity to follow. Admission is a donation. All proceeds will go to “The Hope Chest for women” here in Asheville.

Reynolds football coach Shane Laws is optimistic that two-time former All-WNC linebacker Justin St. Onge will return from a sprained MCL on Friday, while another key member of the Reynolds defense sits out with the same knee injury.

St. Onge (27 tackles) has not played since being hurt Sept. 7 in a 48-17 win at Pisgah. And he has not yet been cleared by doctors to return for the Rockets (5-1).

Unfortunately for Reynolds, it will be without defensive lineman Ryan McLaughlin (11.8 tackles per game) for Friday’s nonconference game at Shelby Crest (5-1). He is due back in two to three weeks after going down in the second half of Friday’s 34-30 loss at Asheville High.

Reynolds is 2-1 in its last three meetings against Crest, but lost 27-14 last year.

“They’ve got athletes all over the field,” Laws said.

“That’s what we wanted out of this game, to play a team like you’d typically see in the (NCHSAA) playoffs. I don’t like the timing of it, but that’s why we wanted this game. And we know how (Roberson) played them (the Rams beat the Chargers, 28-27 on Sept. 7) and that’s another game we’ve got down the road.”

Laws said that everyone in the Rockets program was gutted by the Asheville loss – Reynolds was headed towards an apparent win until the Cougars scored on a 80-yard pass with 21.9 seconds remaining.

“I don’t think any of us really knew how to take it,” Laws said.

“A loss like that just ripped everyone’s heart out. But the kids came back to practice with a pretty good attitude and we’re going to use it. We didn’t play well enough to win. For the most part, Asheville outplayed us. We’ve got good, hard-working kids and we’ll take from it what we need to.”

The news is potentially better on the health front for two other Warriors who went down Friday.

Leading tackler Darius Lytle (8.6 per game) is probable for Friday’s road game at McDowell (5-1, 1-1) after tweaking his ankle and running back Kelman Simpson is questionable with a knee injury.

Simpson was scheduled to receive the confirmation from an MRI this morning, but it is believed that he only sprained an MCL on Friday. That type of injury has sidelined other Western North Carolina football players for at least two weeks this season, but Sexton said that Simpson would be a game-time decision.

Sexton expects a tough time Friday in Marion, regardless of who is available.

“It ought to be a great game,” Sexton said.

“(McDowell) has moved the ball well against everybody they’ve played. And they’ve only lost one game, and that was to an undefeated team (Roberson). ”